Critics, including the crowd that packed Monday’s public hearing, have argued that the merger will result in a loss of services; that the county’s aging demographics require a cabinet-level position to ensure their interests, and projected cost savings will not materialize.

As county officials craft next year’s budget, opponents are trying to kill the deal, and are putting lawmakers on the hotseat to rescind their decision.

The county counters that efficiency is the new normal under the state’s fiscal climate, and that there is no evidence to prove a reduction in elder care, and that the streamlined operation will actually result in better services.

We agree the merger is the right decision, but the county went about it the wrong way.

The OFA Advisory Council has said they have been shut out of the year-long merger process. They said county officials did not respond to their inquiries or attend their meetings. And in order to receive info regarding the merger, they were forced to file Freedom of Information Law requests.

Bolstering their argument, the state OFA has chastised the county for not keeping them in the loop.

The county has not disputed that narrative, instead offering a parochial “father knows best approach.”

As such, the subsequent controversy is of their own making because they allowed an environment of distrust and suspicion to unnecessarily fester.

With better communication, this all could have been avoided.

We see no reason why county officials chose to allegedly freeze the advisory council out of the loop considering there is nothing untoward here.

Facts speak volumes.

We agree with the county that the onus is on critics to prove services will be slashed.

So far, they have not: No staffers have lost their jobs. There is no indication services will be reduced. No seniors have gone on record with complaints. In fact, services to the elderly population have actually increased by 5 percent over the past year, as demonstrated in the formal report submitted to the state.

This is clear evidence that the new arrangement is working.

We know the folks at the county public health department, and we have full confidence that they will remain committed to providing the care that seniors deserve.

Another overlooked aspect is the looming disaster facing the county’s emergency services squads.

To combat the declining volunteers that run local squads, the county has redeployed resources from the OFA to combat the problem, which they have frequently referred to a crisis, and have even wrangled state brass to address the issue.

Essex County is making headway on those fronts, conducting surveys of local squads, opening a dialogue with state officials and entertaining the idea of a countywide EMT service.

This is an issue that is equally vital to seniors, and the county’s aging population.

The private sector frequently streamlines services, and government should follow pursuit.

Seniors are now wielding the merger issue over lawmakers like a sword, and they are faced with a tough decision: Rescind the decision, or stay the course at the risk of political fallout.

The county is absolutely correct in their decision to merge the departments. It is unfortunate that they could not be more transparent in doing so.

The Sun Community News Editorial Board is comprised of Dan Alexander, John Gereau and Pete DeMola. We want to hear from you. Drop us a line on our Facebook page, or follow us on Twitter, to share your thoughts.